Santa Rosa Atmosphere (Berkeley, San Mateo, Napa: cul-de-sac, appointed, city hall)

[sunsueb]

This past October I was staying with friends in Mill Valley and I drove up to Santa Rosa to check the town out. I drove thru downtown and then went to Whole Foods. I was so disappointed in both of these areas that I didn’t explore further and just turned around and drove back to Mill Valley.

Prior to seeing Santa Rosa, I read online what a nice town it was and it sounded like a place I might want to move to. What attracted me to Santa Rosa was the weather, hiking and walking paths, close to ocean and other terrain, the population size, and the cost of living is not all that high, etc.

Now I regret not exploring more of Santa Rosa while I was there. Do you think I got an accurate idea of the area by just seeing the parts I saw? I guess I expected a more vibrant downtown area. And I don’t even remember the WholeFoods area, but it just didn’t that seem nice to me for whatever reason.

Sometimes first impressions are the best to go by. I’m just not sure in this case. Are there some nicer, maybe more sophisticated or quaint areas of Santa Rosa?

(I currently live in Oregon.)

[sliverbox]

I spend a lot of time in that area and live in the SF Bay Area. Santa Rosa to me is basically a typical suburban exurb. You're right that the downtown isn't exactly... happening. A good part of the city is comprised of big box stores, fast food eateries, etc. It is definitely more of a working class town and less hoity-toity... which I sort of like in a way because compared to living in the Bay Area it feels at least "normal" and not out of control gentrified like it is in the city.

If you're looking for more hoity-toity, "sophisticated" stuff then you're going to have to move closer to the city. Prepare to pay out the wazoo for anything though.

[sunsueb]

That's pretty much how I felt about Santa Rosa. I guess I got an accurate impression. Thanks for confirming.

I don't really want "hoity-toity," but a little nicer, more quaint, vibrant downtown than what Santa Rosa had would be nice. I guess I expected Santa Rosa to be more like Eugene, OR. They are similar in size. Eugene has a nice downtown area and some nice restaurants and a nice alive, yet laidback, feel to it without being hoity-toity.

[sliverbox]

The thing about the Bay Area and its outward lying environs is that pretty much all of the cute towns are going to cost you quite a bit of money because they were all "discovered" already. For example if you look up the freeway about 20 minutes from Santa Rosa ( further north) there's a pretty cute small town called Healdsburg. Only problem is that its expensive. Its basically a place for rich Bay Area retirees. Go a bit further up and you start getting into rural areas and their small towns. There's a few small towns about another 40 minutes up the road like Cloverdale, Hopland, Ukiah, and so on. These are typical small rural California towns. There are less rich people in these places thus they're more normal- meaning less fancy restaurants, etc etc.

That said... if not for the fact that there is basically no work in my field up there I would move to any of those non- gentrified towns anyday. The area is beautiful. It does get really hot in the summer. But to me the areas up there feel more like what California was like maybe 40-50 years ago. Beautiful golden hills, old farms, etc etc. Sure- its more conservative and so on. But then again its also more affordable.

But the bottom line is that if you want to have the amenities you mention then its more than likely going to mean settling in a place where lots of rich people live and as a result the costs in housing will be high and by national standards unaffordable.

[sunsueb]

I would probably live in a small CA rural town too if I didn't need to work. That being said, I think Santa Rosa is the smallest-sized town I could live in for work reasons. A larger city would probably be even more realistic. Not nearly as large as SF though, I have lived in SF and I'm not really looking for that scene again. Just too big and too many people.

As far as the COL, that's not my main priority or concern.

[mayorhaggar]

Lots and lots of suburbs in the Bay Area have walkable downtown areas with restaurants and shops, because they became established decades ago when cars weren't so essential for life in California. Lots of places in Marin, San Mateo County, Santa Cruz, Albany, Berkeley, some of the towns around the Lafayette/Orinda area, etc.

It just kind of depends on how far out you want to be, there's probably some town out there you'd like, I think some of the towns around Napa can be like that and are pretty isolated. I think the problem with Santa Rosa is that it's become a big exurb (around 150,000 people I think) with a lot of new development and big box stores. People in the Bay Area like that sort of thing because it's rare unless you drive way out, and SR is just about at the limit of what people here consider a doable commute.

[jchernin]

i grew up here in sonoma county and have spent much of my life here. i moved away but moved back because i believe it is one of the most beautiful places on earth. sonoma county still is very rural. nearly every town is surrounded by cow pastures or vineyards or both. santa rosa itself is still grappling with its image - its trying to 'grow up' into a dense, urban city, but the influence of the conservative agriculturalists strive to keep the 'small town' feel. so it has a little of both. (btw, like marin, sonoma county is considered a democratic stronghold with democrats outnumbering republicans 2-1).

(all photos are mine, but were taken almost 3 years ago, some things have changed since then)

first off, the mcdonald historic neighborhood







the cathedral house




round-about





wanna play?





























pedestrian cut-thru




santa rosa's rural cemetery - a popular dog walking destination






















the santa rosa junior college neighborhood - more mixed income than the mcdonald area










mini-labyrinth








santa rosa high is directly adjacent to the jc








new library








the clock tower is actually attached to the parking garage, how classy




heading downtown




another historic district










new mixed-use completed!














sonoma co museum






mall




4th st




empire bldg


courthouse square




more 4th st














cancer survivors plaza












more 4th st








overview of courthouse square:


















city hall




geometry












entrance to prince memorial greenway


santa rosa creek


the new park


no caption necessary






round-a-bout cul-de-sac


paradise












i entered the complex from the top




water feature: overview


water feature: close-up


looking out of the gardens toward julliard park


this small park (not julliard) has a 'water feature' for kids to play in












back out into the open sun


i think i see some balls!




a water-wall


a hotel of course






another park








railroad square historic district




railroad square








omelette express is the bomb




mixed-use














future Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) line


future mixed used development site


friends


looking out on 4th from the mall




looking down mendocino














i hope these pictures help give you guys a sense of the 'santa rosa' atmosphere. as you can see, it's definitely not urban, but it's beautiful and why i chose this place to raise my family.

[tstieber]

Those are great! We love to drive up for the day, and this reminds us why!

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by sunsueb

This past October I was staying with friends in Mill Valley and I drove up to Santa Rosa to check the town out. I drove thru downtown and then went to Whole Foods. I was so disappointed in both of these areas that I didn’t explore further and just turned around and drove back to Mill Valley.

Prior to seeing Santa Rosa, I read online what a nice town it was and it sounded like a place I might want to move to. What attracted me to Santa Rosa was the weather, hiking and walking paths, close to ocean and other terrain, the population size, and the cost of living is not all that high, etc.

Now I regret not exploring more of Santa Rosa while I was there. Do you think I got an accurate idea of the area by just seeing the parts I saw? I guess I expected a more vibrant downtown area. And I don’t even remember the WholeFoods area, but it just didn’t that seem nice to me for whatever reason.

Sometimes first impressions are the best to go by. I’m just not sure in this case. Are there some nicer, maybe more sophisticated or quaint areas of Santa Rosa?

(I currently live in Oregon.)

I also had high hopes of Santa Rosa, but was disappointed after numerous visits. It feels too "country" and a bit run down. Have you been to Walnut Creek? It's a great city, I'd choose it over Santa Rosa anytime.

[jchernin]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

I also had high hopes of Santa Rosa, but was disappointed after numerous visits. It feels too "country" and a bit run down. Have you been to Walnut Creek? It's a great city, I'd choose it over Santa Rosa anytime.

Santa Rosa is definately not run down, it's wabi-sabi. do my photos show a run down town? there's a difference between rustic and run down. I doubt seven million tourists visit walnut creek every year...